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National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence

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Wife Abuse Among Women of Childbearing Age in Nicaragua

By Mary Ellsberg, Rodolfo Peña, Andrés Herrera,
Jerker Liljestrand, & Anna Winkvist

This article presents the findings of a study conducted in León, Nicaragua in 1995. The purpose of the study was to (a) measure rates and severity of physical abuse among women from current or former partners, and (b) identify risk factors related to abuse.

488 women from León, Nicaragua participated in the study. Interviews were conducted between April and June 1995.
Women who were poor, had more than 4 children, and had a family history of domestic violence (in either the wife's or husband's family) were the more likely victims of abuse.
One half of ever-married women had experienced physical violence from a partner at some point in their lives.
40% reported experiencing physical violence by a current partner at some time in their life.
The lifetime rates of violence ranged from 8% among dating women to 52% among married women.
Among married women 27% reported experiencing violence in the previous 12 months.
70% of the violence (experienced in the past and currently) was considered severe.
According to this study, one half (1/2) of married women in León, Nicaragua experienced physical violence from a partner at some time in their lives, and 1 out of 5 women had been severely beaten within the last year
In León, Nicaragua, a cohabiting relationship (living with your partner without being married) increases the risk of physical abuse.

Ellsberg, M., Peña, R., Herrera, A., Lilijestrand, J., & Winkvist, A. (1999). "Wife Abuse Among Women of Childbearing Age in Nicaragua". American Journal of Public Health, 89(2),

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